Medics, patients appeal for assistance

Medical personnel, patients’ guardians and patients admitted to Salima District Hospital have appealed to people of goodwill, businesspersons and the corporate world to help government provide adequate resources to the health sector.

Speaking in interviews on the side-lines of a donation ceremony of various food and non-food items by Zamangwe Electrical Contractors (Zeco) to the hospital’s paediatric and tuberculosis (TB) wards on Monday, the patients and medical staff observed that there is need to adequately equip the hospitals in line with rising population.

Christina Samuel, a guardian, said lack of funding has resulted in patients not getting adequate medicine and food.

“Most of us face challenges to access adequate food and other needs because the hospital cannot provide them. We, therefore, appeal to people of goodwill, businesspersons and companies to support government in providing resources to hospitals.

“The population is steadily growing. As such, we should not expect government to adequately meet everyone else’s needs and requirements,” she said.

Cecilia Wilson, who spoke on behalf of the hospital management, agreed with Samuel, saying apart from being understaffed, the hospital suffers financial deficits in its quest to meet the needs of patients.

Wilson commended Zeco for the donation.

“The assistance will go a long way in addressing some of the nutritional needs of the patients,” she said.

Zeco director Duncan Zamangwe said the donation was part of his family’s thanksgiving to God during Easter.